Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 893 - 894

GEORGE CARROTHERS. One of the most popular men in the village of Valley Center is the individual whose name heads this sketch, who is the present Postmaster. He was first commissioned to this office in 1875, and held it until 1880, when he was removed, but in October, 1885, was reinstated, and has occupied the position ever since. He transacts all the business of the office, with the assistance of his estimable wife.

            Mr. Carrothers is a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, born Feb. 15, 1843, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Brookover) Carrothers. His parents were natives of Ohio and Maryland respectively, and died, the father in 1856 and the mother about 1871. The ancestors of the Carrothers were Irish, but the parents of Mrs. Elizabeth Carrothers were Eastern people, who removed from Maryland to Ohio when she was about six years of age. James Carrothers, the father of our subject, was reared to the occupation of a farmer, but in his young manhood commenced and served out an apprenticeship at carpentering, and for some years followed that trade. In his later years, however, he went back to the business in which be had been bred, which he followed successfully until a few years before his death, when he retired from the active cares of life. For three successive years, in Ohio, he was engaged in grading and building bridges, etc., on what was called the Steubenville & Ohio Railroad, but which is now known as the "Panhandle Road." By these contracts he amassed considerable money, and was counted among the wealthy and influential citizens of that part of the country. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, and held connection with that denomination for a great number of years, and Mr. Carrothers was one of the leading men of the society. He was a Democrat in politics, and quite influential in all local affairs in the precinct and county where he lived. He was the father of eleven children, namely: Ruth R., Archibald, John L., James T., Elizabeth J., William, George, Mary E., Aton, Robert and Nancy E. Of these children, Archibald, James, William and Mary are deceased.

            The subject of this personal memoir, George, remained at home with his parents, assisting his father on the farm, and during his boyhood drew his education from the common district schools. At the age of nineteen he commenced the battle of life on his own account, working wherever he could find employment at farming for about three years, after which he went to Illinois and located in Macon County, where he followed the same avocation. From that place, a year later, he removed to Moultrie County, in the same State, where he made a stay of about four years and then went to Piatt County. After four or five years spent in the latter locality, in 1875, with a view to better his fortunes and to obtain a place where he could extend his efforts toward a competency, he came to Kansas and located in the village of Valley Center, where he engaged in the mercantile business. This vocation he continued until 1883, when he retired for a short time and was then, as mentioned above, appointed to the office of Postmaster.

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